In 2025, the National Network for Youth partnered with young leaders with lived experience of homelessness to develop the Youth Action Leadership Certificate! This certificate program is designed to equip young advocates with the tools to lead systemic change. NN4Y noticed the need to meaningfully invest in building the skills of young people with lived experience to participate as valuable partners in our work to prevent and end homelessness among young people and families.

Young leaders are stepping up to drive change, and this certificate program gives them the skills, knowledge, and confidence to participate as leaders making a lasting impact.

  • What is the Youth Action Leadership Certificate?

This structured 8-week learning program is designed for young adults (18-24) who have experienced homelessness, as well as allies seeking to support youth. Participants will gain the confidence to lead in Youth Action Boards​ (YABs), Continuums of Care (CoCs), and other local, state, or national decision-making spaces.

Allies can also join, learning alongside youth, to enhance their own advocacy skills and build stronger partnerships with youth and young adults.

  • Why Does This Certificate Matter?

Young people with lived experience bring valuable insights to homelessness policy and service design. However, they often face barriers to full participation, such as limited access to training, uncertainty about how systems work, or feeling unprepared to engage in formal settings. This program builds youths’ skills and remove barriers of full youth participation by:

  • Providing an engaging, accessible, and practical training on how to influence systems effectively.

  • Building confidence through hands-on activities, mentorship, and real-world application.

  • Equipping youth with professional skills that enhance their leadership in both advocacy and career pathways.

  • What Will Participants Learn?

Participants will explore key topics facing YABs, discovering solutions to their pressing questions, like:

  • Advocacy & Public Speaking​​​​​ How can I share my personal experiences to drive meaningful change?
  • Housing & Homelessness Systems​​​​ How do funding, policies, and structures impact the housing and homelessness systems?
  • Building Relationships​​​ How can I effectively engage stakeholders as equal partners?
  • Facilitating Meetings​​ How can I lead inclusive, productive discussions?
  • Project Management​ How can I organize initiatives and turn ideas into action?
  • Running a Youth Action Board What are the best practices for leading and managing a Youth Action Board?

There are Two Ways to Access the Youth Action Leadership Certificate (YALC) Program

The cost of the Youth Action Leadership Certificate program varies depending on the format and group size. If you’re interested in bringing the program to your community or participating in an upcoming cohort, please fill out the interest form.

  1. Community Cohort​​​​​​ Communities can contract with NN4Y to run a customized cohort for their youth leaders, either in person or virtually.
  2. Open Enrollment​​​​​ Individuals can join one of NN4Y’s national virtual cohorts offered throughout the year. Our next open cohort is TBD.

For questions, contact Sarah Billings at sarah.billings@nn4youth.org.

We are excited to connect with you and learn more about how we can support your local work! Together, we can prevent and end youth homelessness.